As MPs at home began mulling the prospects of deadlines for a leadership change should the government be unable to get out of its tail spin, Mr Turnbull in Manila acknowledged how untidy things appeared but pointed out that, one by one, the government was working to solve the problems which have so bedevilled it in recent months.

"We face plenty of problems in politics and we deal with them," he said.

He listed energy, same-sex marriage and the citizenship fiasco as issues which the government was gradually resolving.

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There were new divisions in the Coalition as conservatives officially served notice of a damaging internal brawl over the details of the bill to legalise same-sex marriage, and Labor was warning that a vote for the Liberals would be a vote for One Nation in the Bennelong byelection on December 16.

On the floor of the Senate, there were extraordinary scenes as the man chosen to replace One Nation's Malcolm Roberts, Fraser Anning, was escorted in to the chamber to be sworn in by two fellow cross benchers as it was revealed he had parted ways with One Nation after falling out with Pauline Hanson, who had tried to force him to stand aside so Mr Roberts could come back.

The special minister of state, Scott Ryan, resigned to be elected the new Senate president, a move which meant there was yet another minister acting in a portfolio, with the Finance Minister taking on Senator Ryan's former responsibilities, in anticipation of a ministerial reshuffle after the New England byelection on December 2.

December 1 is D-day

Fraser Anning was escorted by David Leyonhjelm and Cory Bernardi.
Andrew Meares

The government trails Labor by 55 per cent to 45 per cent on a two-party basis and Mr Turnbull's rating as preferred prime minister, his signature advantage, has collapsed.

David Rowe

He has slumped to 36 per cent support, just ahead of Bill Shorten on 34, leaving 30 per cent of people uncommitted.

The crucial 30th Newspoll - which has effectively become the testing point for Mr Turnbull's longevity given he quoted 30 bad polls for Tony Abbott when he challenged him in 2015 - is due in March next year, about the same time as an expected series of byelections flowing from the citizenship fallout.

One senior conservative said the mood was still to get behind Mr Turnbull.

"The more the adversity, the more people instinctively lock in," he said. "You can't be indulgent when things are like this."

'Not of Malcolm's making'

He said if matters were still as turbulent by the end of the first quarter of next year, Mr Turnbull may be in trouble.

However the conservatives would not accept Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as leader.

"If it's a change from Turnbull to Bishop, I'm in Turnbull's praetorian guard."

Another senior source said voters needed to known that the citizenship crisis "is not of Malcolm's making".

"We have to get that message across," he said.

He said a good result in the November 25 Queensland state election and the Bennelong by-election would be important to calm nerves.

"Everyone looks at parliamentary events at any given time and says 'gosh its unruly'. You know what? It's always been so. It's noisy, people disagree."

'It will get done'

He said same-sex marriage should be legislated by the end of the year on the back of a Yes vote expected Wednesday, but not before the Conservatives who oppose change cause another fight by proposing an alternative bill which would wind back anti-discrimination laws in the name of protecting religious freedoms.

"The Parliament will deal with it, it will get done," Mr Turnbull said.

"Look at the citizenship issue, great consternation, thanks to our initiative, my initiative, a resolution I drafted, we've reached agreement with Labor.

"Everyone will put all their facts and materials out there and then the House can resolve who, if anyone, to send off to the High Court."

The Coalition has named four Opposition members it suspects were ineligible to stand for election.

Those MPs include Tasmanian Justine Keay, who has conceded the renunciation of her UK citizenship was not confirmed until after the 2016 election, Susan Lamb from Queensland, who may be entitled to UK citizenship through her deceased father, along with West Australians Madeleine King and Josh Wilson, who have refused to say when British authorities finalised their applications.

But Labor has promised to also push for a number of Coalition MPs to be pushed before the court

Manager of Government Business Christopher Pyne said the Newspoll reflected the public's view of the citizenship scandals engulfing the Parliament.

"There's no doubt that the last fortnight has been messy from the Government's point of view because of this issue around dual citizenship. That would have affected people's thinking around the government," Mr Pyne told AM.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove swore in three new senators, on Monday including Australia's youngest-ever upper house member, 23-year-old West Australian Greens senator Jordon Steele-John, as well as Senator Anning, and another Greens senator, Andrew Bartlett.

Bitter question time

Question time in the Senate also saw a bitter exchange between Greens senator Nick McKim and attorney-general George Brandis over Manus Island where authorities have moved to destroy the water supply of men who refuse to leave the camp.

Senator McKim said both major parties had blood on their hands over Manus Island, while Senator Brandis countered that Senator McKim's visit to Manus was designed to foment violence

The Paterson bill gives far broader rights for people to discriminate against same-sex weddings. The prime minister signalled the original Smith bill - which was based on an extensive parliamentary inquiry - should be the basis for debate.

Addressing the Labor Senate Caucus, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the nation will "throw up its hands and give up on the parliament" if the Yes vote is successful but same-sex marriage is not legalised by the end of the year.

He said there should be no moves by the government to delay the vote as conservative MPs propose a new bill with stronger religious protections.